Everything before me felt utterly strange. I could see many villagers, and some of them greeted me as they passed by. I looked at the tiled house, my child tugging at me, urging me to hurry inside.
Entering the tiled house, I was shocked to see the woman lying on the bed—it was Rachel Lan. She looked nearly forty, but it was definitely her. I wasn't mistaken.
“Rachel, how did you...”
“Qingyuan, I'm afraid this illness can't be cured.”
My child, who was tugging at me, suddenly burst into tears, lying on top of Rachel Lan and crying heartbreakingly. I still couldn't figure out what was going on. I placed a hand on the child's head to comfort them.
“It's alright. She'll get better.”
I blurted out, all the while observing Rachel Lan. Her face was pale, and a bloodstained towel lay beside her. She started coughing again. I sat by the bed, patting her back as she coughed up mouthfuls of crimson blood.
What exactly is going on? Just a moment ago I was activating a ritual array, but in a daze, I found myself here. This turn of events caught me completely off guard. Yet, deep inside, I felt an overwhelming joy—being able to see Rachel Lan was reason enough to be happy.
After a while, the child lying on Rachel Lan fell asleep. I picked him up and let him sleep beside her. I didn't ask anything, just listened to Rachel Lan ramble on about things.
It was mostly village gossip and talk about her illness.
"Ethan, do you think I committed too many sins in my past life, and that's why Heaven is punishing me so much this time?"
I shook my head, held Rachel's hand, and smiled.
No, that's not it! You're just sick. Everyone gets sick sometimes—yours is just a bit more serious than most. I'll find a way to cure you.
Time flew by—I had already spent half a month in this place. Every day I worked in the fields, and hurried home when finished. Our child was well-behaved, caring for Rachel Lan while I was out.
But I could never really get used to all this. Over the past half month, I tried every possible way to cure Rachel Lan, but nothing worked.
Then, one afternoon, a wandering Divine Healer came to the village—my neighbor had found him in the county town. After checking Rachel Lan's pulse, the Divine Healer pulled me into the main house, looking mysterious.
"Doctor, what exactly..."
"Do you want your wife to live?"
Before I could finish, the doctor interrupted me. I nodded, and he leaned in, whispered something to me, and left.
I stood there for a long time. He gave me some medicine, but said it needed a catalyst—the catalyst was fresh blood from the heart.
"What did the doctor say?"
I nodded and smiled, holding the medicine.
"Don't worry. Take this medicine and you'll be fine."
At night, in the shed, Rachel Lan and our child were already asleep. I put the medicine in the pot, preparing to decoct it, and told our child to bring it to his mother first thing in the morning.
I took a gleaming knife and pressed it against my chest. I already knew the answer. I stabbed myself, and a wave of agonizing pain made me pass out.
In a daze, I woke up in total darkness. I felt something around me, and when I touched my chest, there was nothing unusual.
"Are you the Array Spirit? Why are you making me see and go through all this?"
I shouted, clenching my fists. My power was usable again, and strands of Specter Web extended in all directions.
"It's not me making you see these things—it's you who made yourself see them."
A deep voice came, and I looked around. The sound drifted near and far, but I couldn't find where it was coming from.
"What do you mean?"
"Whatever you hope for in your heart, that's what you'll see. This is just a manifestation of your own vulnerability."
I didn't really understand what the Array Spirit meant, so I sat down.
"So, can the required sacrifice for this Ritual Array be changed?"
"No."
"Why?"
A burst of wild laughter echoed, then faded. The darkness around me slowly disappeared, and I regained consciousness. When I opened my eyes, I saw Deathcurse.
"Ethan, you've been unconscious for a whole day and night. What happened?"
I told my companions what had happened while I was unconscious. Elder Peach looked at the Ritual Array on the ground, appearing thoughtful.
"Maybe there's a way."
Suddenly, we all turned to look at Elder Peach.
"I need something—a fruit with human wisdom. I've heard of it before, said to exist in the Underworld. It can discern many things, but it's just a single fruit."
I gasped and looked at Elder Peach in surprise.
"Heartfruit."
Isabelle Frost spoke, and I looked at her.
"I've heard of it too, but whether it really exists is another matter. I first heard the rumor a thousand years ago."
Elder Peach nodded in agreement.
"Our Mount Mason Order's records mention this fruit. If we can find it, maybe there's a way."
"There's someone who can help you find this fruit—he's seen it before."
Uncle Zhuang spoke up immediately. I glanced at him, and Isabelle Frost nodded as well.
"Lord Shen Yan has seen such a fruit before."
I arrived at the top floor of Hongyun Corporation, anxiously waiting. Redhair had already sent Wu Ming to inform Lord Shen Yan, and he would be here soon.
"Don't worry, Ethan."
Uncle Zhuang said, and I nodded.
"Since Elder Peach said the fruit is useful, it means he must have some confidence."
Ghost Painter Sage spoke, explaining to me. Legend says this strange fruit can talk; many ghosts have seen it in the Underworld. He used to collect ghost stories and had heard many rumors about the fruit.
Now all we could do was wait for Lord Shen Yan. I sat at the edge of the rooftop, closed my eyes, and waited quietly.
"He's here."
After a moment, I sensed a powerful ghostly aura approaching. I looked over and saw a blazing crimson light coming our way.
With a boom, Lord Shen Yan landed on the rooftop. I looked at him—he was staring at me with a serious expression.
"Let's go. Finding that fruit won't be easy. We need to head to the Underworld now."
I replied with a quiet "Mm" and nodded. The space before us split open, and together we entered, arriving at the entrance to the Hall of Malice. A flickering green orb appeared—Redhair had prepared this path to the Underworld for us.
"Ethan Zhang, you all better be careful. The path I opened leads to the wilderness. Going to the Underworld means you'll be targeted immediately."
I nodded. Lord Shen Yan silently entered the green light, and I followed him in.
It was a tunnel; Lord Shen Yan and I floated through it. He didn't speak, just quietly led me onward. After a while, a bright white light appeared ahead, and I closed my eyes.
When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in a barren wasteland, with the wind howling all around.
"What are you doing?"
I jumped in surprise as Lord Shen Yan placed a hand on my cheek, stroking it for a moment. I drifted backward, seeing his serious expression—he wasn't joking.
"What's wrong?"
Lord Shen Yan touched the spot where my blood-red tear streak was.
"Ethan Zhang, for a while, don't think about Rachel Lan."
"Why?"
"If you want to find that fruit, do as I say."
Lord Shen Yan floated up, scanning the area before moving with a whoosh. I followed quickly, but just then, a streak of red light sped toward us from the distant sky—someone from the Underworld.
Immediately, the baleful energy inside me surged out. I raised Beauty, Lord Shen Yan stopped, held out a hand, signaling me not to panic.
The red light drew closer and closer, and I felt an overwhelming ghostly aura.
"Lord Shen Yan, I didn't expect you'd come back. Heh, so? Come with me—we have unfinished business."